N'DJAMENA/YAOUNDE (Reuters) - [b]When battle-hardened Chadian troops overran a Boko Haram camp in northern Nigeria last week, they wanted to press deep into territory controlled by the Islamist group but Nigeria refused to let them.

Having defeated al Qaeda in Mali two years ago, Chad's military believes it could could finish off Boko Haram alone. It has notched up victories that have pushed the Nigerian militants back from the Cameroonian border.

But with presidential elections this month, Nigeria is keen to press ahead with its own military campaign against Boko Haram, aiming to push it out of major towns before the March 28 ballot.

In a country proud to be a major African power, it would be an embarrassment to President Goodluck Jonathan as he seeks reelection for a smaller nation to tackle Nigeria's security problems, diplomats say.


In their forward base in the town of Gambaru on the Nigeria-Cameroon border, Chadian soldiers displayed dozens of guns seized from Boko Haram and a burnt-out armoured vehicle painted with black and white Arabic script.

"We turned back because Nigeria did not authorise us to go any further," army spokesman Colonel Azem Bermandoa said[/b].

Nigeria's spokesman for operations in the northeast, Mike Omeri, said cooperation between Chadian and Nigerian forces has brought some major military successes and any issues would be resolved via existing command structures.

But the Chadians say there have been no joint operations between the two forces. Chad's offer to join a Nigerian offensive to capture Baga, site of one of Boko Haram's worst atrocities in January, was rebuffed, Bermandoa said.

Officials from Chad, Niger and Cameroon say lack of cooperation from Nigeria has for months hampered efforts to put together a regional taskforce against Boko Haram. Chad was compelled to take unilateral action in January, under a deal that allows it to pursue terrorists into Nigeria, after Boko Haram violence started to choke off imports to its economy.

With Niger and Cameroon deploying thousands of troops on their borders, blocking escape routes for Boko Haram, the tide may be turning. In what Nigeria has branded a sign of desperation, the Islamist group has carried out wave of suicide attacks and threatened to disrupt the election.

Francois Conradie, analyst with South African-based NKC Research, said that if the current offensive can be sustained, Boko Haram could quickly be driven out of the remaining towns it holds. It would, however, remain a deadly rural guerrilla force.



OPPOSITION CRITICISES RELIANCE ON CHAD

Many in Nigeria ask why it took so long to act. Boko Haram killed thousands last year and kidnapped many more in its six-year campaign for an Islamist emirate in Africa's largest oil producer.

Niger, Cameroon and Chad say Nigeria neglected the uprising in its economically backward northeast, an opposition stronghold. Borno state is home to two percent of Nigeria's 170 million people.



But in recent months, Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler who is running as the presidential candidate for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), has gained popularity with voters desperate for tough policies both on corruption and Boko Haram.

Amid pressure from the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria's electoral commission announced a six week postponement to the Feb. 14 election, to allow the army to tackle the security situation in the northeast so voting could go ahead there.

Ernst Hogendoorn, Crisis Group's Africa deputy programme director, said the government appeared to have engineered the delay in the hope the APC would slip up or the military could boost Jonathan by defeating Boko Haram.

"Boko Haram has certainly suffered a strategic setback ... Clearly this improves Goodluck Jonathan's chances somewhat," said Hogendoorn. "The question is do any of these forces have the ability to maintain this tempo, particularly the Chadians and to a lesser degree the Nigerians?"


With Chad already squeezed by a slump in the price of oil, its main export, the government says it can only sustain the offensive in Nigeria for a short time, diplomats say.

Buhari, however, has already criticised Jonathan for relying on Chad to push back Boko Haram, saying his government would tackle the problem alone. Many in the military and the government are keen to limit foreign involvement on Nigerian soil, diplomats say.

When Chadian forces last month entered the town of Dikwa, they were told to leave by Nigeria's military, which said it was planning air strikes, Bermondoa said.

After Nigeria's army retook Baga last month, Army Chief Major General Kenneth Minimah said his soldiers would recapture a handful of remaining towns before the elections, listing Dikwa as one of them. “The war is almost ended," he said.

TENSIONS HAMPER REGIONAL FORCE

Boko Haram was long regarded by neighbouring countries as an internal Nigerian problem, but attacks in Cameroon and Niger last year prompted the regional response. Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Benin and Cameroon agreed in May to join forces against the militants.

Since then, however, distrust and misunderstandings have stymied preparations for the force, due to take effect by the end of this month. Nigeria initially sent low-level representatives to planning meetings, angering its allies.

Cooperation between Cameroon and Nigeria has been dogged by long-running border tensions, while Niger accused Nigerian troops of cowardice.

"Nigeria must get involved and honour its promise of providing between 2,500 and 3,000 to the multinational force," said Cameroon's defence spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck.

Cameroon has stepped up its activities since July, when Boko Haram attacked Kolotafa, the hometown of its deputy prime minister, killing dozens and kidnapping his wife.

The government has boosted its security forces in northern Cameroon from 700 to around 7,000.

"We have to do whatever it takes to make sure the sect does not occupy any town in Cameroon," said Colonel Joseph Nouma, in charge of Operation Alpha, the mission against Boko Haram.

However, Nouma said he has orders not to enter Nigeria, and Cameroon has denied Nigerian troops the right to pursue insurgents into Cameroon.

Along its 400 km (250 miles) border with Nigeria, Cameroon has created 14 new bases, with heavy artillery batteries. It has also deployed surveillance drones, a senior intelligence officer said.

Another senior Cameroon military figure said they were attempting to choke off Boko Haram's revenues, including the trade in fuel with Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

"All of this looks to be paying off," the officer said, with no incursions since mid-February.






https://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-stalls-chad-aims-beat-boko-haram-election-063211309.html

With chadians or without chadians soldiers, by the grace of God, Boko are rams shall be put to an end before the end of this month in Jesus name, in Allah name and in sango name.....
AMEN!!!!!

In politics there must be a major tool for campaign propagandas and the insurgency is a bankable asset for that reality.

Bokoharam is a no match to the Nigerian Armforces

We will beat dem, beat apc till dem thugs stop shouting sai baba sai baba

Anybody still in doubt about the culpability of the NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT led by the wicked, heartless and soulless jonaTAN needs his head examined and checked.

Thank God YAHOO is not owned by TINUBU or APC.

It is a glaring and wicked plan of the Governement with collaboration of some top military generals to use the Boko Haram Insurgency for stealing Military Budget allocation and also deplete the population of the North East for Political gains and then turn around to use it as an excuse to extend the life of the Government stating we were at war, " this plan failed because Tambuwal defected to the APC and PDPs plan to remove him by force and impose Ihedioha failed due to police mishandling of the invasion of the Green chamber and the heroics of Lawmakers who jumped the fence to enter the chamber and thus prevented ihedioha from going ahead with the impeachment plan"

It took a clear impending election loss for wicked jonaTAN to decide to finally do what he ought to have done over 5years simply because the plot to allow the insurgency grow and then use it as an excuse to prevent election would not work again.

The question any reasonable Nigerian should be asking is "were the weapons used in fighting Boko Haram in the 3weeks just manufactured in 2015" what made soldiers ran away leaving their armoury and cache of arms for Boko Haram to come loot? the commanders directed tactical withdrawal for political reasons and arming the insurgents to allow them linger.


Is CHAD doing us a favour because it loves Nigeria and hence ready to lose its own soldiers for an insurgency that the Nigerian government allowed to flourish and gained grounds? the answer is well documented in the Habre invasion of Nigeria in 1982. the Chadians aren't doing this for love or fun of war, there is something in it for them and so far our Government gave them the blank cheque of official inviatation, then the same foolish government that invited Idris Derby to come fight its war for it should not be blocking the advance of the soldiers if the goal is to end the INSURGENCY not mindful of who did what


Why is the government scared of the Chadian advance if the CinC flew to N'djemena to beg the Chadian president for help, Didn't Buhari quelled Maitastine with Nigerian soldiers alone? didn't he fight the chadians invasion in 1982 with solely Nigerian soldiers? do we need the help of a country less than a state in our country to fight Boko Haram in the first place?

GEJ WORKING TILL 2019

Since Boko haram party has used insurgency as weapon against the GEJ goverment, he'll use their plan against them by wiping out Boko haram completely without any outside help.
Gej till 2019.

It is very difficult to satisfy these evil APC plebs, all of a sudden, Chad is now their darling.
These are the same people that were complaining when Chad first entered Nigeri's territory.
What is wrong with limiting Chad's involvement in fighting in Nigerian territory?
See what this hypocrite posted when Chad first entered Nigeria.

pendy79:


Thanks for the complement bro. Nigeria's problem isn't prayers not being answered but we allowed ourselves to be driven by parochial sentiments of religion and ethnic bigotry.

If Nigeria is better, it will be for the good and benefit of all. If you allow a poor, less populated, lower GDP, civil war ravaged and less developed country like Chad make military incursions into your territory without invitation or coordination with your own military then your National Security and Territorial Integrity is at risk.

The best defence of a Nation is DETERENCE AND FEAR OF YOUR CAPABILITY TO RESPOND WHEN ATTACKED., what North Korea, Iran and Russia are benefiting hugely from cos all their enemies are not sure of their military might.

But what the Chadian Army have done is to show the entire world how useless our Army and National Defence is like. It is totally not in existence. Chadians planes enter into our country and we have no radar to pick them up and no Airforce jets scrambled to intercept them to ask their mission.

Shame on Nigerian leadership from the political leaders to the military.

Russians jets enter the English channels last Thursday and the Royal Airforce was in the Air seconds after to intercept them and afterwards the Russian Envoy was summoned to Downing Street to explain, that's response.

Have the Nigerian leaders or military made any comment since the episode? NO.

Watch Niger Republic start getting ideas to seize Nigerian Territories soon.

torkaka:
. . . . . . . . . . . . .it seems the Chadians are more than ready to rumble . . . . . . . . .clearly Ebele the drunk is aiding Boko Haram . . . . . . . . . .why not allow Chad continue its rampage so we can finish those b.astards once and for all?

We cannot allow them to move further into our territory, that's a threat to our sovereignty. Let them do their work from their end, and we do ours from our own end.

In the end, we choke the terrorists and take them out finally. There will be no escape route for them.

Reminds me of the movie... Strike back

There is no satisfying these hypocrites.
They said Chad wanted to claim some of our territories, now they are complaining of Nigeria's refusal to grant Chad permission to make further incursions. The hypocrisy is absolutely nauseating.

pendy79:


Sign undertaking? You don't mean it do you? You mean they should allow their own soldiers to die while yours run away from the front and the only thing they will tell the family of their soldiers is an undertaking for being a good neighbor.

Let face reality here, Chad under president habre their late former president led an incursion into Nigeria in 1982 I think, and killed some nigerian soldiers whilst laying claims.to same territories in Nigeria they are fighting seriously to liberate now.

Buhari then under whose division those soldiers were took it upon himself to liberate the territory hijacked and took on the Chadian Army killing and clearing them even up to the border of Libya before the OAU intervened and pleaded with president Shagari to rein in Buhari and his soldiers.

History has a way of repeating itself. Chad won't leave.with nothing, they had plans for those territories long long ago

Chad is now suddenly your darling.

pendy79:


why not foolishly take those your answers to the Presidency and the DSS. they will most likely need them than me.

ignorant people like you who lack basic understanding of Military operations assume all is well because some daft commentators spew rubbish that you foolishly assume is the reality.

For Chad to raise its National Flag on Nigerian Territory signify a new low for the Nigerian Army. All our neighbours will see the Nigerian Army as an assemblage of foolish and jobless youths who joined up to make ends meet and hence lack tactical military manuovers except for running away in the face of attack. No Military worth its name runaway from TERRORIST advance.

Russia lost over 500,000 soldiers to the German Advance during the 2nd world war but they never backed down.

Same Boko Haram that your soldiers are running from are being diminished by a more competent and motivated ARMY.

Shame on JONATAN and shame on the Nigerian Military Leadership, shame on the DSS, Shame on the Minister of Defence, shame on the National Security Adviser.

I think I may end up marrying a Chadian. Starting to love the little country.

pendy79:
N'DJAMENA/YAOUNDE (Reuters)


Another senior Cameroon military figure said they were attempting to choke off Boko Haram's revenues, including the trade in fuel with Cameroon, Chad and Niger.





https://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-stalls-chad-aims-beat-boko-haram-election-063211309.html

Someone please explain to me how---if Northern Nigeria doesn have oil---is Boko Haram getting crude oil to trade to finance its operations?

No10:
I think I may end up marrying a Chadian. Starting to love the little country.

Chad is bigger than Nigeria

OREMUSSANCTUS:
We will beat dem, beat apc till dem thugs stop shouting sai baba sai baba

I wonder why people like you think with their dick.s.........
who are the thugs now
MUMUNDI

Collynzo9:
It is very difficult to satisfy these evil APC plebs, all of a sudden, Chad is now their darling.
These are the same people that were complaining when Chad first entered Nigeri's territory.
What is wrong with limiting Chad's involvement in fighting in Nigerian territory?
See what this hypocrite posted when Chad first entered Nigeria.

don't expect everything that is being done to be sang in the media. If they release video of air bombardments . Some will shout propaganda.
Their isn't any country that u can just invade her airspace without interception let alone Nigeria. I knw u may hate Nigeria leaders but don't let it make u speak what u re not sure of.
Modified.... I was meant to quote pendy79

ISpiksDaTroof:
Someone please explain to me how---if Northern Nigeria doesn have oil---is Boko Haram getting crude oil to trade to finance its operations?

They said fuel, not necessarily crude oil. North might not have crude oil but petroleum products are moved in tankers and pipelines to depots in the north daily.

Nigeria has always wanted the cooperation of our neighbours but Nigeria first and main demand is for them to man their border properly so that boko haram would not use their border as a regrouping base, they are now doing it and we thank them for it. Fighting Boko-harem together is wonderful but they should know that their is a limit to their involvement both for strategic,nationalistic and political reasons. I appreciate their co-operation and i hope they continue to work on their main reason for this effort which is to man their border properly.

This government traded the blood, lives and souls of its citizens to seek political and financial gains.

it is wicked, heartless and soulless to allow Boko Haram flourish for upward of 6years and then the same Military that could not combat the mythical boko haram have finally when it became obvious that they could not stop the election using Boko Haram as excuse and a glaring defeat to the jonaTAN and the PDP, the military have now gained in 3weeks what they could not achieved in 5years.

How did we arrive at a situation where Chad a country not up to Lagos state in population and economic index lead the charge against Boko Haram and make remarkable progress and victories? if GEJ himself went to meet Idris Derby to ask for help, why then is his Military commanders stalling the Chadian Advance? if we have lost our prestige and the glory of our Military in the fight against Boko Haram why not allow them to end the insurgency since he had gone to them for assistance. Chad is a country of 12million people or thereabout, with an annual budget less than our Military Defence spending alone yet its less funded military have turned around the fortune and gains of Boko Haram. the weapons our soldiers are using today weren't just manufactured, somebody just deliberately allowed Boko Haram to gain ground

ISpiksDaTroof:
Someone please explain to me how---if Northern Nigeria doesn have oil---is Boko Haram getting crude oil to trade to finance its operations?

Perhaps when you adequately reflect on your question you will better understand the geo-political economics of this presidential contest.
Cheers.

Nigeria's PDP army has proven to be as effective as their Commander-in-Chief. Completely unreliable.

pendy79:
This government traded the blood, lives and souls of its citizens to seek political and financial gains.

You mean Buhari, right

Buhari faults crackdown on Boko Haram
JUNE 3, 2013

Presidential candidate for the Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 Presidential election, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has frowned on the emergency rule in parts of the North. He alleged that innocent civilians were being killed in the states.

Buhari speaking during a Liberty FM Hausa Service Programme, Guest of the Week, on Sunday in Kaduna said that Boko Haram members were being killed and their houses demolished unlike the “special treatment” given to the Niger Delta militants by the Federal Government.

More from: http://www.punchng.com/news/joining-apc-not-about-2015-presidency-buhari/

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2035028_buhari_jpeg124530d5bd433c751b175a8e21349689

I remember when the Chadian army pursued terrorist right into the Nigerian territory, some APC apologist cried foul that Nigerian army is a disgrace to let a foreign army fight a battle meant for Nigeria. That the battle against boko haram should not involve other countries. Now that the Nigerian army is trying to restrict and limit foreign intervention diplomatically to prevent Nigeria's sovereignty from being violated, some are still raising eyebrows Am not a security analyst, but fighting Terrorism is not a task for one country. Countries must be involved. I believe the Nigerian army want a situation where the coalition forces of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic secure and provide more security along their borders to prevent terrorist from escaping as air strikes and Mop-Up operation from the Nigerian Army continue. It's important we realize that Nigeria's territorial integrity cannot be violated in the battle against boko haram. What happened in Iraq must never be allowed to replicate itself on Nigeria's territory.

Collynzo9:
It is very difficult to satisfy these evil APC plebs, all of a sudden, Chad is now their darling.
These are the same people that were complaining when Chad first entered Nigeri's territory.
What is wrong with limiting Chad's involvement in fighting in Nigerian territory?
See what this hypocrite posted when Chad first entered Nigeria.

See as you just expose the fraud called pendy79

Pennywise:
Nigeria's PDP army has proven to be as effective as their Commander-in-Chief. Completely unreliable.

Buhari, an old soldier and former Head of State is so daft that he does not even have a plan how to fight Boko Haram

I’ll meet other generals to draft anti-terror plan – Buhari

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday said that though Nigeria is a rich nation, its people are extremely poor due to bad governance.

He also promised to involve serving and retired military generals to devise an effective strategy to crush insurgency in the country, if elected as President in 2015.

More from: http://www.punchng.com/news/ill-meet-other-generals-to-draft-anti-terror-plan-buhari/

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2094761_b60ddvicqaawwfb_jpegcaf20b03a32f629134f4358ff7cc86a2

Rad1cal:


See as you just expose the fraud called pendy79

Just watch as the eediot re-appear under a different moniker to spew his usual bile.

He is a confirmed fraudster.

pendy79:
This government traded the blood, lives and souls of its citizens to seek political and financial gains.

Pathetic hypocrite.

Bayswater:


Just watch as the eediot re-appear under a different moniker to spew his usual bile.

He is a confirmed fraudster.

Most APC supporters are frauds and he is shamelessly among the lot.

Collynzo9:

Chad is bigger than Nigeria

Meant that figuratively.